Motorcycle manufacturers have always tried to one-up each other by making the fastest bikes possible, but it wasn’t until the early 1980s that the race replica era truly took off. From there, the fully-faired road racers kept growing in popularity until the Golden Era of sports bikes ended abruptly in the late 2000s.
Since then, the 600cc supersport class has all but disappeared, and the superbikes that are still around tend to come with ridiculous price tags. Luckily, all is not lost, as we’re now witnessing the rise of a whole new type of sports bike — the twin and triple cylinder models. The following brand-new middleweight sports bikes offer decent power and excellent daily usability, and they’re even capable on the racetrack. They may be available for reasonable money, but buyers won’t have to sacrifice an ounce of fun.
Why We Chose These Bikes
There’s not much to choose from if you want a full-fairing sports bike that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg and can be used as a daily rider. Based on personal experience from decades of riding, I chose to steer clear of the smaller entry-level bikes, instead focusing on the 450cc class and up, which means they’ll have between 45 and 117 horsepower (hp). Not overwhelming, but more than enough to have fun.
All the specs and stats are from the manufacturers’ websites, and the motorcycles are listed from cheapest to most expensive starting MSRP, not including any destination charges, dealer markups, or tariffs.
Kawasaki Ninja 500 — $5,299
If you’re in the market for an everyday bike that offers comfort during your daily commute, is fun on a twisty road, and can even handle some track day action, the Kawasaki Ninja 500 could be the bike for you. It’s called a 500, but Kawasaki generously rounded up that number, as the parallel-twin engine actually measures 451cc. On the American market, Kawasaki claims it produces 51 horsepower.
Design-wise, the Ninja 500 looks like we’d expect a Kawasaki sports bike to look, especially with the bright green paint. Only those in the know will notice its skinny rear tire and the single brake disc at the front, hinting that it’s not a “proper” performance model.
CFMoto 450SS — $5,699
CFMoto took the motorcycle world by surprise when it revealed its 450SS (SR outside the North American market). Nobody expected it to be as good as it is. Quite frankly, it’s one of the best bikes in the beginner bike segment right now, slotting in just behind the new Aprilia RS 457. I’ll admit I was skeptical at first, but after riding it, I really want one.
Being a Chinese bike, the resale value may suffer, and the build quality hasn’t been tested over long periods, so only time will tell if it’s as good as we think. Right now, all we can say is that the CFMoto 450SS has a great-sounding 450cc parallel-twin with a 270-degree crank, resulting in 50 hp. It’s also packing a slipper clutch and Brembo M40 brakes with a 320mm disc and 4-piston caliper.
Aprilia RS 457 — 6,899
Aprilia’s new RS 457 is definitely not the best commuter bike — it’s far too track-focused for that. But if you want a feature-laden, entry-level sports bike with razor-sharp handling, nothing beats it.
It’s the only bike in its class to feature a cast aluminum frame, and the 457cc parallel-twin with a 270-degree crank churns out a claimed 48 hp and 32 lb-ft of torque. Not bad for a bike that only weighs 386 pounds, and it even has three ride modes and three levels of traction control, so keeping the shiny side up shouldn’t be a problem.
Honda CBR500R — $7,399
The Honda CBR500R doesn’t offer all the thrills of the other entry-level bikes on this list, but it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a sensible bike rather than a racer. It looks like a proper big bike, and unlike many small-displacement models, the CBR500R has the same dimensions as the larger models. With ABS as standard, dual front disc brakes, and a Showa fork, it should be very responsive when bringing things to a halt as well.
Its 471cc engine develops 47 hp and 31.7 lb-ft of torque, which is on par with the other bikes in the 400-500 class, but the Honda is also the heaviest of the bunch, weighing in at 423 lbs. If you need a solid commuter that can even do some long trips, it’s perfect! Those who want a bike that’ll excite you during a track day, any of the others on this list will be a better option.
Kawasaki Ninja 650 — $7,399
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 looks like a proper sports bike, but in reality, it’s more of a sports tourer than a track machine. That’s not a bad thing, though, as it means it’s more comfortable, with ergonomics that are closer to that of a naked bike than a full-blown superbike.
Compared to the aforementioned 400 and 500cc bikes, the Ninja’s 649cc parallel-twin engine is much more powerful. Here, riders will get 67 hp and 48.5 lb-ft of torque, giving it a much stronger midrange than the smaller, buzzier bikes. With a price tag that matches the Honda CBR500R, there’s no doubt that the Ninja is the better option for the money.
CFMoto 675SS — $7,999
If the CFMoto 450SS is too small, the Chinese bikemaker also offers the 675SS, and it is stunning! It’s obvious that CFMoto drew some inspiration from styling commonly seen on MotoGP bikes. Seeing as CFMoto has a strong relationship with KTM, it’s somewhat surprising that they decided to use a 675cc triple-cylinder engine instead of one of the Austrians’ readily available units, but we’re not complaining.
With just under 100 hp and 52 lb-ft of torque, an agile chassis, a decent amount of tech, and a price tag that sounds too good to be true, the CFMoto 675SS is all set to be a strong contender in the middleweight sports bike segment.
Triumph Daytona 660 — $9,195
Triumph is famous for its three-cylinder engines, and that’s what they chose when it was time to make a new middleweight sports bike, the Daytona 660. Considering that the British bike maker supplied the engines for the Moto2 race bikes, it would make sense if the Triumph Daytona 660 were a highly focused track missile, but surprisingly, that’s not the case at all.
It’s built to compete with the other sub-100 hp bikes in this class, and it has a softer setup and a more relaxed riding position than most enthusiasts expected when it was first announced. This really is a sports bike that lets you spend all day in the saddle without needing to visit a chiropractor when you park it for the day.
Yamaha R7 — $9,199
If you want a twin-powered sports bike, but the Kawasaki 650 Ninja is too relaxed for your liking, the Yamaha R7 may be right up your alley. This isn’t just an MT-07 with some fancy fairings; the chassis, suspension, brakes, etc., were all revised for the R7. It’s aggressive and highly focused on making the most of its 73-hp parallel-twin engine.
It’s worth noting that, thanks to its aggressive ergonomics, the R7 isn’t a comfortable bike to ride for long periods of time. But, for that first hour you’re carving up the twisties, it’s as fun as thoroughbred superbikes that cost twice as much and pack three times the power.
Suzuki GSX-8R — $9,439
Back in the day, Suzuki ruled the sports bike segment with its GSX-R, or Gixxer, lineup. They were a bit late to the middleweight sports bike segment, but after seeing the Suzuki GSX-8R, I forgive them. The bike’s ergonomics are geared more towards comfort than that of its bigger, more powerful sibling, the GSX-R1000. However, that’s great news for everyone looking for a real-world bike rather than a track weapon.
Producing 82 hp, its 800cc parallel twin will happily indulge some shenanigans, but it’s not so powerful that you’ll find yourself in constant trouble with the law. As an all-rounder, the GSX-8R is hard to beat.
Kawasaki ZX-4RR — $9,699
You may be wondering why a Kawasaki Ninja with a 400cc engine is more expensive than some of these larger-capacity bikes. Well, what you’re looking at here is the ultimate 400cc performance bike, and the only things it has in common with the Ninja 500 and 650 are the design language and lime-green paint.
Like the iconic small-displacement Japanese sports bikes of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the ZX-4RR has a high-revving 400cc four-cylinder engine. Whereas the European version gets 76 hp and 29 lb-ft of torque, the American model is restricted to 56 hp due to noise and emissions regulations. However, I suspect that can be easily rectified with some tools and know-how. Once its full potential is unleashed, this little monster will leave all the other beginner bikes in its dust.
Honda CBR650R — $9,899
Most middleweight sports bikes use parallel twin engines, but Honda decided to do things differently. The Honda CBR600R has a 95-hp four-cylinder unit, outclassing most of the competition in this segment — at least in terms of sheer power.
Not only does the CBR650R pack more power, but it’s also one of the most comfortable sports bikes on the market. The flip side of that coin is that it’s not the best track bike, but it’s one of the best all-rounders for everyday use. As for reliability, it’s a Honda, one of the most reliable brands in the world, according to Consumer Reports.
Aprilia RS 660 — $11,749
Aprilia’s second entry on this list is the excellent RS 660. According to Motorcycle.com, it’s Europe’s best-selling sports bike, and there are some good reasons for that. The Aprilia RS 660 has a parallel twin that produces roughly 100 hp and is fitted in an extremely agile chassis, and it’s all nicely wrapped in gorgeous fairings. This really is the perfect sports bike for both track and everyday use.
While its ergonomics are slightly aggressive, they’re nowhere near as bad as a proper superbike, such as the R1 or GSXR-1000. If I were forced to pick just one bike from this list, there’s a real possibility I’d go with the RS 660 — especially the higher-spec Factory model, but at $13,999, that one is just outside our budget.
Yamaha R9 — $12,499
Ever since Yamaha introduced the MT-09 in 2014, we’ve heard rumors of a full-fairing sportbike built around the same engine. Well, it “only” took ten years, but the Yamaha R9 is finally here. The three-cylinder R9 is not meant to compete with four-cylinder liter bikes; It’s a step up from the current middleweight bikes, with similar power to what the old four-cylinder 600cc class delivered, but with more torque.
The R9 is easily one of the most anticipated and exciting sports bikes to emerge from the Land of the Rising Sun in years. With a 117-hp 890cc engine, slipper clutch, fat KYB forks, 320mm front disc brakes, and a rider triangle that’s somewhere between track setup and a more forgiving road setup, the R9 is a lot of bike for the money.
Get Your Knee Down
While the sports bike market isn’t what it once was, it’s not all doom and gloom, either. Sure, the top-spec superbikes are too expensive, but downsizing to an entry-level or middleweight sports bike can offer 80% of the fun for 30-60% of the money.
In addition, since they have smaller engines with less power, they’ll also save you money at the pump and reduce your chances of being pulled over by the long arm of the law for doing something silly.